The Périer-D’Ieteren family has always contributed to philanthropic works through ad hoc actions. It wished to perpetuate this engagement by creating a Foundation of public utility. Officially recognised in 2017, the Foundation has since been supporting social, scientific, artistic, pedagogical and cultural activities in line with the values shared by its founders: human dignity, heritage conservation and the development of scientific research.

The Foundation has identified three areas of action:

1. The Foundation supports research activities, studies and teaching in Art History and Heritage Conservation. This support is achieved by a close cooperation with, among others, the Université Libre de Bruxelles, particularly through the funding of seminars, grants for doctoral or post-doctoral fellowships and the set-up of its own library specializing in these fields. It also acts for the benefit of museums and scientific institutions, such as the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, for the publication of works and studies on art from the Southern Netherlands between the 15th and 17th centuries.

2. The Foundation supports initiatives in the area of Individual Assistance, particularly associations which offer assistance for subsistence, dignity, access to healthcare, education and self-development to unprivileged people or victims of circumstances beyond their control.

3. The Foundation contributes to the development of scientific research programmes in universities and academic institutions in the fields of social sciences, exact sciences and medicine.